the mystical temple of god 606 are we adorned by the former virtues [i.e., faith and hope], but we shall retain the splendor of charity also as the blessed in Heaven. For that reason the Apostle of Charity, who wished to be “cut off” [from Christ] for his brothers,85 recommends no ornament more than charity to his Corinthians, indeed, to all Christians, and he portrays it in his wholly flourishing style of writing in this way: “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and do not have charity, I have become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor 13:1) [LV].86 The Corinthians abounded in brass, and he wished them to abound in charity, and he compared the man who lacks charity to sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal (these they had before their eyes). He continues: “And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and possess all knowledge; if I should have all faith that I could remove mountains, and do not have charity, I am nothing. If I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and do not have charity, it profits me nothing. Charity is patient, is kind.” (Look, look at the colors of charity!); “Charity does not envy, does not deal perversely, is not puffed up. Is not ambitious, does not seek her own, is not provoked to anger, thinks no evil. Does not rejoice in inequity, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13:2-7) [LV]. How many ornaments of the Mystical Temple are expressed in the one image of charity! But we must also fasten our belts around our waists with chastity, and by patience save our souls, and become known for our modesty, and be exalted for our humility. Although it may appear despicable and incompatible with magnificence, yet a certain person spoke very well and most truly about it in a Biography of Ferdinand the most devout and 85 Cf. Rom 9:3. 86 Cf. NV, Ch. 2, § 1: “The Teacher of the Nations compared the servant of GOD lacking the fervor of true charity to sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.”
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